Performance Characteristics And Nutrient Utilization Of Growing Yankassa Rams Fed Varying Levels Of Corn Cobs Treated With Fermented Poultry Droppings

Abstract

Sixteen growing Yankassa rams, aged 11-13 months and weighing between 14.50 and 14.75kg were fed for 84days on diets containing poultry dropping treated corn cobs fermented with water. The fermented cobs were included at 0%, 33%, 67%, and 100% at the expense of maize and wheat offal on the diets Co, C33, C67, and C100 respectively. Feed intake values varied significantly (P<0.05) from 169.76 gDMd-1 (C100) to
702.15gDMd-1(C33) with C33 and C67 recording significantly higher (P<0.05) values than the control diet (C0). Nutrient intakes (gd-1kg-1w0.75) were also significantly different (P<0.05) among all treatments, with C33 showing the highest intake levels, followed by C67 and C0, while C100 recorded the least values. The average daily weight gain of animals on C33 (49.79gd-1) and C67 (46.12gd-1) which were statistically similar
(P<0.05) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those on the control diet (Co). Meanwhile weight gain of animals on treated corn cobs decreased as the level of corn cob in the ration increased (49.76, 46.12 and 10.20 gd-1 respectively). The dry matter digestibility (DMD) of C67 and C33 were 3.75% and 1.94% higher than that of C0 while the DMD of C100 was 23.10% lower (P<0.05) than that of the control diet. Apparent digestibilities of CP, CF, NDF, ADF and ADC in the dietary treatments followed the same trend as DMD. Nitrogen retention gradually decreased (P<0.05) from C0 to C100 while C0, C33, and C67 were not significantly different (P<0.05) from one another. The result in the present study suggests that for a maize and wheat offal based diet, dried poultry dropping treated corn cobs could be incorporated in the diet of growing rams at up to 67% level of inclusion.